Marjan Rahbari

Master of Engineering Science Candidate

BE (Chem Eng)

Location: Room A210 Engineering Annex
Email: mrahbari@chemeng.adelaide.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 8303 3093
FAX: +61 8 8303 4373

Supervisors

Dr Peter Ashman, School of Chemical Engineering
Dr David Lewis, School of Chemical Engineering

Research Topic

Dewatering Pleurochrysis Carterae for large scale production of biofuel

Research Abstract

Microalgae have significant advantages including direct CO2 reduction and potential for biofuel production. Particularly, Pleurochrysis Carterae with High lipid content (33% of dry mass) and low risk of contaminations has a potential application for bio fuel production.

At present low efficient and expensive harvesting process (30% of all costs) are the main limitations for large scale production. Filtration and centrifugation are the most promising methods preferably after flocculation. However, previous studies have failed to present an acceptable dewatering method but dewatering this particular species has not to be done yet.

This study is performed to develop an economical method for dewatering biomass with maximum efficiency in a large scale. All data will be basements for large scale production.
Finally, results from lab experiments will be scaled for 45 ml/year and estimate feasibility and total cost of each technique in a large scale.

Interests

• Intersts, Biotechnology, Bioenergy and Chemical-Environmental Engineering

Recent Publications